Smyrna times., 1887-02-23
Provide for National Defenoes.

AHO PiOSpcCJ Ol u6clSlVe action re-
specting the Nations defences on sea
and land is not promising. A large
number of schemes have engrossed the
attention of both houses of Congress.
and dozen important measure have
either passed the Senate or are under
the control Of standing committee. The
close OF the session, however, is rap
idly approaching, and with so many
rival projects in the field it is probable
that no adequate measure for increas-
ing the Navy or for strengthening the
seaboard will be enacted. The Amer
lean people will be sOrely disappointed
if Congress adjourns without taking
some practical steps toward providing
for the defence of the country. Thev
have nodesire to have large appropria-
tions voted with precipitate haste and
without deliberation. They do not
look for a comprehensive and thor
oughly digested scheme of coast fortifi-
cations or naval reconstruction. Pub
lie opinion will be satisfied if some
practical measure be adopted which
will mark the beginning of a system of
National defence.
Among the rival measures now claim
ing the attention of Congress the most
Important are those passed by the Sen
ate for promoting the manufacture of
armor and gun-metal and the establish
ment of gun factories for the Army and
Navy. Everything that has been done
during the last five years by military
and naval commissions and ordnance
officials has led directly up to the prop
OsitiOns of these bills. This it the first
and indispensable condition of National
defence-thdt the conditions required
for the manufacture of modern guns
and war material shall be domesticated
on American soil. Congress last year
authorized the construction of two
ironclads, but no progress can be made
with their construction and armaments
until the plant for producing the armor
and gun-metal has been secured.
Equally premature will be the passage
Of measures for the construction of
guns of given weights and of armored
land-turrets for harbor defence. Ar
mored ships cannot be built until suf-
ticient inducements are offered to man
ufacturers for the introduction of ma
chinery for producing the armor in
great quantities. Gun-metal cannot be
obtained until facilities are provided
for manufacturing it on a large scale.
The Senate ordnance. The Senate
ordnance bills begin at the bottom and
provide for the establishment of the in
dustries. If the House will take them
up and pass them, it can afford to hang
up for year every other measure for
National defence.
The chief stumbling-block in the way
of the passage of these bills has not
been obstruction by professional econ
Omists. In despair of reducing the
surplus in any other way, the Demo-
cratic leaders have been ready to vote
money Unfortunately for public pur-
poses. The main source of opposition
is cOterie of self-interested schemers
and pretenders who have gun-making
projects of their own and have imposed
upon the credulity of Mr.. Randall and
other leaders. One man insists upon
having cast-iron guns made in place of
steel guns, when the superiority of the
latter is generally recognized in Europe.
Another man has a multicharge gun
which he considers the most important
invention of the age. 1t may, of
course, have all the merits claimed for
it, but a system of National defence
ought not to be held in obeyance for
the sake of the multicharge gun. An
other man wants to take the old Rod
man guns, cut off a section Ofthe tube,
cast long iron tube with a fange,
fasten it with tOp-bOlts to a ring that is
to be screwed on to the gun, and then
put cylinder of steel inside the cham
ber where the action of gasses is great
est! These and many other projects
are most industriOusly advocated in
committee rooms and outside the Cap
itol. All these side issues should be
swept aside by the House ApprOpria-
tions Committee. The Senate bills
should not be endangered by problem
atical devices and selfish schemes
Ne,O York Tribune.